Kev

I think Howes and Adam are on the edge of experiencing the blues. Expectations, uncertainty, knowledge of what it takes, living up to that, and the associated anxiety. Adams (though hasn't had a game at AFL level) looks great at times, powerful and confident, expressing leadership qualities and then he has drops in confidence. Howes has regularly been having errors of handling and disposal in sims and drills. He is moving very smoothly and getting opportunities with the ball. I wonder, what is going on? Hope, as you say the coaches get around them and are clear in explaining roles and what they need to work on.

One of the players causing turnovers was Windsor. He closes quickly and is able to get the finger tips to the ball. The reading of the play is a great asset, then he gets the ground ball, drives and steps, and finds a link. He will make a good attacking defender alongside McVee.

I know what you mean, skill errors, especially under pressure, are going to happen. I see them not transitioning well when the turnover occurs. I hope they work hard on that, as well as the skills. At the moment most turnovers lead to easy ball movement by the chasing team. A few like Kossie, put pressure on after they turn it over. Then there are the dropped heads, Adam, Howes, Verrall, Kentfield. I particularly like the players who don't do two in a row, Kolt, Langford to name a couple of young ones, and oldies like May, Chandler, Tracc, with that headset. Langford is very interesting, he just gets on with it, very little apparent stress, from any mistakes. Like he knows there will be mistakes, as you say, and it is the next opportunity that he appears to be looking forward to, Cool Customer.

Clarry is fit, happy to outrun others in sprints. Getting heavily involved in the sims. They were getting them to make and hit leads over the back and running towards goal. They are hitting each other hard and willingly in the drills. Petty slammed Tracc backwards and onto ground with a don't argue. That got them going hard at each other with plenty of intensity, during one of the handball games. Goody's words, something along, doing like we ask you makes a much better, and easier drill. When doing the drills without shape it led to being caught in tight spaces. When following the correct patterns and structures they moved the ball to the open spaces, and with better completions. Wings in the sims, included Sparrow, Billings, Langers and Woey. Sparrow is running the rails without too much strain, looking trim. McVee was everywhere. I saw him start with ball on the defensive point post, then he finished the play off in the half-forward area inside the 50. Heading to being one of our elites. Petty was used forward and back. Kossie had the different coloured bib on (the linking player), later it was Tracc. Kossie got picked off few times, but got to the contest and impacted after the error. I like his ability to see ahead of himself. Working hard on being a playmaker. Jefferson had a great session, hands are sticky, kicking snaps with confidence, and finding separation out the back. Bowser is our best field kick, hitting some incredibly hard passes. Many are still floating the ball, not Bowser, gets the ball to the player, flat and direct. Salem is not far behind, with beautiful kicks. Mentha likes to dance with the ball, got caught a few times, love his cheekiness/bravado to take them on. Rivers got picked off a few times as well. They were playing down the corridor, with high reward, high risk sims. Turner is another looking good. Moving fast, getting separation and appears set for a big year. Fritta is also playing well. Very fit, even strong as he cleans the defenders away from the contest. Goaling is a natural, effortless action. Adams and Howes are making a few errors. May is starting plenty of plays off the backline. His fitness is improving. Langford and Kolt (looking bigger), also made a few errors. Turnovers will kill us. JVR was not out there today. Tmac had some strapping on his right shoulder, moving well. Lever, a patella support on his left leg, running with intensity at times. Hard extensive session. They are being put through their paces.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times AFL Gosch's Paddock Monday, December 9 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm Wednesday, December 11 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm Friday, December 13 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm Monday, December 16 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm

They have been simming and drilling in very congested areas. A marked change from early last season. When they structure up with a crowded forward line, the instructions I have heard have been, 'look and kick it to where the leading forwrd wants it'. A few of the sims when crowded had them putting the ball infront of JVR who wanted it above the pack for a strong specky attempt, hit the pack, and have a front and centre ready. Big change is that the crumbers are being drilled, working together, and making sure that someone is there at the crumb (hard running). Chandler reads it well. Kossie's snaps are a beautiful thing to see, so very consistent. They haven't given up on the kind of bomb it in theory.

Going well! Has put on bulk around the hips. Looks taller than last season. Getting involved in the sims. Listening to and executing the instructions. This morning he was working hard, getting off the blindside of defenders, and in constant movement. Didn't get many passes to him, continued to offer options. His handball and field kicking have also improved, has great hands. Has a reliable set shot. The tackling effort is still lacking, or it maybe that he cannot read defensiveness well. Starts a step behind and doesn't straight line with gusto, though can zone defend reasonably well. During drills he is as clean as anyone. Looking happy. Must be a chance to get a start this year.

A few observations - Basset, and Jones (Goody observing) had a sim/structural drill going, tackling included, going in at about 60% commitment. It seemed to be about getting the ball out from a stoppage in the backline with kick, when the ball gets locked in by congestion. The other side of the field had Chaplin and, I think Whitford, doing something similar, with the emphasis being locking the ball in. Basset was very vocal, he emphasised that the corridor was sacrosanct, 'give them the boundary'. Langford struggled with the shorts kicks, and decision-making a couple of times. His long kicks were more successful. Campbell moved and handled the ball fairly well for a big man. Good fun watching Viney and Tracc compete against each other. They had some stoppages for the mids, taken by Jones. Two mids on one opposition, crumbing off the rucks, Gawn, Verrall and Campbell. One mid would block, as the other gets a free run to collect the tap. I am yet to see the tall forwards do any ruck work. The forwards all practised set kicking from about 45 metres out, taken by Choco. The backs, with Bassett, practised the basic releases. The full sims were done with plenty of skill, fast ball movement, and a sparse forward line. They had an extensive, intensive session, building well.

Your guess is as good as mine. Probably, they will train Wednesday and Friday (same place and time), then the Christmas break.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times AFL Gosch's Paddock Monday, December 9 Gosch's Paddock 10am - 12pm

Early on, shy and a bit star struck. It effected his cleanliness with the ball. Ricky Mentha is starting to get into it now. Lovely feet movements sends him to the space in a flash, has that lateral step which is smooth, fast and transitionless to straighten up again. Hands are getting better, shape of ball needs a little work but gets that lovely spin on it, occasionally over hits it. You could see a difference with the other new boys. They had good coaches who drilled them within an AFL program and they fit in easily. Ricky will need some help in knowing the expectations and the finer aspects of AFL. He appears to be picking it up quickly as I see a marked improvement within the short period he has been with us. He is under Kossie's wing, who seems to be enjoying the leadership role.

A few observations. Coaches are micromanaging, here are a couple of examples. For delivery of ball to Turner, 'look for where he wants it kicked'. To Sestan, 'Ollie keep moving, get to the next contest, that is your strength'. Gawn and Cambell were rucking for the mids when they separated into their lines. I would assume Tom will be the back-up ruck if Max goes down. I doubt he will be the second ruck. Lever and McAdam were running with gusto as they did laps. Both started the session in boots. Charlie who is not in a training jersey, has to be closer to getting down with the squad. Goody and Whitford took the backs for drills. I think Basset had the session off. Each defender had a mannequin as an opponent, 8 of them. They moved around it and kicked with precision to the next player. Sinnemar was very clean. I sense the players appreciate that, a new young one that doesn't hold the drills up. The sims. Turnovers make it easy for the other to find space and go direct to for goal. Something I think we will need to work on. Kossie was looking for Mentha. They were keen for the contest, hard hits occurred and high marking attempts that hit through packs. JVR has his spark, he hit some packs, nearly marking it, bringing the ball to the front. Wings included, Sharp, Billings (who is looking good), Langers and Woey.

Was it Cranky Franky who said the tail of the elephant was too long in the petroglyph and was confused as to whether it was looking east or west. On other trivia, the balls used Wednesday were a set of new ones, a mixture of "GT" stripes and normal reds. In prior training sessions they were using old yellow balls.

Harry Sharp has looked good from day 1. Glides around the field, comfortable with ball in hand, he is not disturbing the pecking order as he is keeping a humble and happy disposition. Howes started preseason with the occasional fumble and misskick. I feel a few may have jumped above him. Today he had a good run at it. Hoping he is finding some confidence from it. His body is looking taller and stronger.

For me the confusion is with Adams, getting mixed up with MxAdam. Bit pedantic though, you know who I am talking about, and isn't that what communication is about? Slang, and nicknames must drive you crazy. Is it that you are well educated, getting distinction in English and are playing the class and superiority card in your sarcasm. So you didn't ask a genuine question? Well done, you must be fun at dinner parties with your trivial pursuits.

The sun was hard. I stayed in the shade. My wife is regularly using an umbrella.

McAdams is still on light duties. Gawn is getting more involved with the leadership role, He is in cruise mode. Oliver is trying hard. Viney is excelling and isbest by a far distance, also, atending every session so far. Billings is looking very good. Running hard, getting plenty of ball and with good disposals. Back to the club in great shape.

When Clarry was boundary running with Campbell, he was belching . Perhaps he had an upset stomach. Wasn't the temperature in the low 20's. I was in the shade most of the time, and comfortable. @Ghostwriter

The weather wasn't too bad. Barely any breeze and the temp was fine during their run.

A few observations. Coaches are working hard. Plenty of instructions, and a variety of new drills that are making them use different skills. Bounces and run, more focus on having opponents, handballs with the players getting in the way of opposition, and opponents (Jones) getting in the way of runners. They are happy and training with skill and high standards McAdams with boots on and kicking goals. Spargo getting closer. Langford likes a goal and can kick them on the run and from a long way out. Fritta doing some training drills and extra running. Salem has already dropped a few kilos. Melky in an orange bib during sims (the only one), and connecting through the middle and then hitting up with some beautiful kicks. Tackling in handball game was ferocious, I worried about them at times. Bowey was in with the backs when in their lines but matched up against Windsor on the wing in the sims. The other wing side had Billings and Langdon. Tracc playing with some flair, his field kicking has also improved. Oliver was trying to dance around opponents but got caught a few times.

They may be going with a high press strategy from the defenders, really locking the ball in when forward/midfield. If so we need the fastest players so as to transition if the other team find some corridors. Also get a feeling we are going to play as a swarm around the contest, a condensed competitive game. Three forwards, four backs and the rest are onballers with lateral spread when we get the ball, and with hard running to the next contest. That exhaustive kind of game where we tire later in quarters or in the 4th. No, they are trying to keep them in a high line up the field during general play. Though I have seen them lead to pockets from the 20 metre area at stoppages. Sometimes a line of hats 20 metres out, suggest no one should be in close to the square. I have also seen them make a square with the hats straight out from the square 10×10 metres, where they want them to lead into, and the deliverer to kick too. No-one to start in it. Yet to see a one on one deep forward, in sims or structures

Stafford primarily trained them to dance around each other (starting from a clumped position), so as to create mismatches and separation. I always thought it was Ringa-ringa-rosi action. He also emphasised the one on one contest, between players. Mainly concerned with talls. Never set himself close to the ball delivery players, always micro managing deep in the 50 area. Big change with Chaplin and all. He brings the mids and forwards together. Can be seen outside the 50 giving direction as well in the 50. When he does one on one, with the players or as an opponent himself, he is more certain as to what he wants. Stafford was a little bit of an encourager. Troy wants separation and smarts, getting fast explosive movement with timing. Great to see him drill the crumbers, two smalls at the feet. Still some leading patterns into the boundary, though could be more about the delivery and not kicking out on the full. Other patterns are straight leads, or off out the back. Some delivery is with angles and some are short hit ups for better percentage shots. Movement is paramount. I think and hope there are more "tricks" to come.

Nathan is very hands on. Always has a ball, though yet to understand the nuances of his midfield coaching. First thoughts are they are going to be direct, quick, flick the ball round, look for breaking the lines, and finish with precision and/or to advantage kicks Radford is listed as an Opposition Strategy and Education coach, and am not sure yet of the input. He hangs out with the mids is the best I can offer at this stage. Goody seems to be with the mids when he is not observing, or instructing as to how he wants the entire structure set up. Bassett, the backline coach is quite animated and heavily involved with his group. Today, Whitford (I think) VFL coach was down with the backs as well, when they separated into their lines. Working on the spread, and release boundary side. Interesting that the coaches are all working together, joining the mids with either the backs or forwards so the connections are enhanced. The place was full today, difficult to observe and get a gist as to what the patterns and coach inputs. Chaplin (forward drills) and Goody (positioning) have changed the system up the most.

The club is invested in Sparrow. He is maturing and probably his best footy is ahead if him. I believe his decision making needs work, as does his handballs. An interesting year ahead for him. Hope he steps up.

I'm with you on that. Windsor was doing well on the wing and loves a goal. I hope it is just a learning situation in case of a need. I understand plenty get the training in a second position.